Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

San Gabriel City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

5 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Eric L. ChanIncumbentAccountant and property manager elected to the San Gabriel City Council in 2022.4sourced
Jordan GuzmanProfessional musician and educator based in San Gabriel, California. He serves on the governing board of a private school in Sierra Madre.4sourced
Denise MenchacaIncumbentSan Gabriel councilmember first elected in March 2017 and twice mayor. She holds a USC accounting degree.7sourced
Wendy WangCaregiver in the Los Angeles County In-Home Supportive Services program for nearly nine years. She has lived in San Gabriel for nearly 23 years.4sourced
John WuIncumbentInternational and California-licensed real estate broker elected to the San Gabriel City Council in 2022.5sourced

All San Gabriel voters choose among the candidates for three open at-large council seats; the top three finishers win.

3 notes on these statements

Eric L. Chan was elected mayor and Tony Ding vice mayor at a special council meeting on April 21, 2026. Local News Pasadena · Apr 21, 2026

The official candidate list shows one candidate each for City Treasurer (Kevin Sawkins) and City Clerk (Thu "Julie" Nguyen). City of San Gabriel · Aug 11, 2026

Three incumbents, Eric L. Chan, Denise Menchaca and John Wu, are running for the three open council seats against two challengers. Colorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jorge Herrera AvilaCouncilmember; sworn in December 17, 20245sourced Tony DingSan Gabriel councilmember elected Vice Mayor in April 2026.5sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesTrash rates and the Athens contract, Local sales tax measure, Events funding and the Mission Playhouse Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots mailed to registered voters (approximately the first week of October)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Trash rates and the Athens contract

Where it standsThe council approved a contract amendment and new solid waste rates in May and July 2026 after a majority-protest hearing found fewer protests than needed.

What's on the tableHow the new rates and rate formula work in practice, and what happens when the Athens Services contract is reviewed or renewed.

On May 19, 2026 the council voted 3-1, with the mayor absent, to approve the Seventh Amendment to the Athens Services agreement for a third recycling bin and a commercial rate adjustment, and to start a Proposition 218 process. San Gabriel City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
At the July 21, 2026 hearing, 56 valid protests were received against a threshold of 3,812 parcels (50% of 7,624), so the clerk certified that a majority protest did not exist. San Gabriel City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
On July 21, 2026 the council adopted Resolution No. 26-39 establishing the new rates and rate adjustment methodology, with four ayes and one abstention. San Gabriel City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

Local sales tax measure

Where it standsThe council voted 5-0 on July 21, 2026 to put a transactions and use tax measure on the November 3 ballot.

What's on the tableHow the city spends any new revenue if voters approve the measure, and how it responds if the state does not raise the sales tax cap.

The measure seeks an additional 1% sales tax on local retail transactions and needs a majority of voters to pass. Colorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026
Minutes of the July 21, 2026 meeting say that if the state raises the cap and voters approve a 1% increase, the city's total sales tax would be 12%; if the state does not approve and voters do, it would increase by ¼%. San Gabriel City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

Events funding and the Mission Playhouse

Where it standsThe council approved up to $50,000 for the Dumpling and Beer Festival on a 3-2 vote and accepted a plan to start a Mission Playhouse nonprofit.

What's on the tableWhether and how much the city keeps spending on events and on the Playhouse as the nonprofit is set up.

On Sept. 1, 2026 the council voted 3-2 to approve $50,000 in financial support and amend the Professional Service Agreement with MPD Events. San Gabriel City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
On March 17, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to accept the draft Mission Playhouse Strategic Plan and contract for the start-up of a Playhouse nonprofit. San Gabriel City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026

Police facility

Where it standsThe council reviewed five conceptual design options for a police department facility in March 2026 and took no vote.

What's on the tableWhether to move forward on a police facility and how to fund it.

At the March 17, 2026 meeting, discussion included that construction for all five options would bring the facility into compliance with current seismic codes. San Gabriel City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
The same discussion noted that none of the options include a functioning jail because of liability issues. San Gabriel City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should San Gabriel handle its Athens Services trash contract and new rates?
2. Should the city spend up to $50,000 to support the Dumpling and Beer Festival?
3. Should the Mission Playhouse be run by a new nonprofit?
4. Should San Gabriel create a Youth Commission?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Ballots mailed to registered voters (approximately the first week of October)Colorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteColorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026Oct 19, 2026
In-person voting opens (as early as)Colorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026Oct 24, 2026
Election DayCity of San GabrielNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Jorge Herrera Avila, Tony Ding3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

San Gabriel has five at-large council seats, and council members are elected to four-year terms. Colorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026
The council rotates the office of Mayor yearly among its sitting members, and the Mayor is chosen by the council, not by voters. Colorado Boulevard Newspaper · Sep 2, 2026

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